Jahn's Family Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlor is a special place. I mentioned Jahn's to my mother, who instantly started reminiscing about her childhood in The Bronx. Jahn's opened 120 years ago and used to be a local franchise with locations all over New York City. Now the only remaining one is in Jackson Heights, Queens. They serve typical diner fare, and many of the locals just stop in for a meal without any dessert at all. It is when you turn to the back of the menu that you discover the magic and nostalgia that gives Jahn's its legacy. It is also where you will find the creation that inspired the most epic ice cream adventure yet. You see, Jahn's sells a sundae known as
The Kitchen Sink; a monumental ice cream creation that they will
not serve to fewer than 8 people. Of course, this meant it was time to
rally the troupes for
Ice Cream Adventure; Birthday Edition
And so it was that on a fine June day my loved ones and friends made a pilgrimage to Jackson Heights, to the last standing Jahn's where, to this day, they still make all their own ice cream and toppings. Once we were assembled and had thoroughly colonized the back of the restaurant, we placed the order: "The Kitchen Sink, please."
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| If you look to the right of the spoon handle, you can see the flame on what we can only guess was a graham cracker they lit on fire and stuck into the sundae. |
So what is in a kitchen sink under all that homemade whipped cream? It starts with two scoops of every flavor of ice cream Jahn's offers; Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, Coffee, Butter Pecan, Cherry Vanilla, Pistachio Almond, Cookies & Cream, Vanilla Fudge, Chocolate Chip, Mint Chip, and Sherbet. On top of that they add fudge and caramel sauces, banana, pineapple and nuts, mountains of fresh whipped cream, and enough sprinkles and cherries to fill your heart's desire. There might have been more in there; it was hard to keep track of everything. No two servings and no two bites were the same. Once a layer of flavor was uncovered a new one emerged below. It would take a team of dessert archeologists to pick apart the delicious madness that is The Kitchen Sink, and they would need to work fast! As it was, our last few scoops were a wonderful ice cream soup.
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| I begin the excavation, I mean serving, of the ice cream. |
Everyone loved it! We enjoyed digging through, looking for new flavors, and guessing what we had each gotten in our bowls. I went for some green ice cream that I was assuming was the Mint Chip and wound up with Pistachio Almond instead. I'm not usually a fan of pistachio ice cream, but this one, with almond mixed in (which I love), was absolutely luxurious. All the ice cream at Jahn's has wonderful flavors and a creamy texture that lets you know it's the real deal. We kept digging, eating, and enjoying all the way to the bottom of the bowl.
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| Mission thoroughly accomplished! |
Even with its behemoth size, a Kitchen Sink alone was not nearly enough to sate the ice cream appetites of these adventurers! Sundaes and sodas were enjoyed all around.
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| Reita and Mike "split" a Banana Royal. |
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| Jenny and her Root Beer Float |
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| Kirin went for the Orange Sherbet Soda, which she discovered was "perfect for a hot summer day." |
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| Beautiful sundaes for all! I lost track of who had what after a while. |
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| I also discovered that people tend to make this face when photographed with ice cream. Sky has no clue what danger her sundae is in. |
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| If you think this kid looks excited about his ice cream, you should have seen the dance he did when the fruit salad he ordered showed up! |
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| Ron might have had to share his ice cream. |
All in all it was a beautiful, tasty celebration. I was surrounded by the amazing people who make my life sweet and rich every day, even when there is no dessert to be had. The staff at Jahn's were incredible hosts and brought dish after dish of delicious ice cream, leaving us all refreshed and satisfied. What a perfect way to start my next trip around the sun.
The Rundown:
Where: Jahn's Family Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlor
8104 37th Avenue #1
Flushing, NY 11372
What they're known for: Homemade nostalgic ice cream
A single cup or cone: $3.40
Most Extreme Menu Item: The Kitchen Sink $55.95
Non-ice cream menu options: Full diner menu
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I remember when I was younger I used to go to a Jahns on Fordham Rd. in the Bronx,everytime U went there was a thing they had if anyone could eat a Kitchen Sink ice cream special by themselves completely it was free, picture that.
ReplyDeleteMy father worked at the Jahn's on 32 & Flatbush Ave in Brooklyn
DeleteI used to go to the one on Fordham Rd when I was in the Bronx, but my "home" Jahn's was on Springfield Blvd in Bayside (Oakland Gardens). They also had the free deal on the Kitchen Sink if you could eat it alone, but my go-to was the Cherries Jubilee.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a teenager we used to go sometimes to Jahn's in The Bronx but also to Jahn's on Queens Blvd. No one ever finished a Kitchen Sink.
ReplyDelete